"I am Sure Baba is in My Group"

From: "Vijay Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Date: 16 Mar 2012 21:23:57 -0000
Subject: "I am Sure Baba is in My Group"

Baba

== "I AM SURE BABA IS IN MY GROUP" ==

Namaskar,
For a while the level of the group clash in our Marga has been at a critical phase. Each faction is fighting for their own survival & dominance, all the while thinking that Baba is supporting their party, their narrow cause. Verily, all think that "Baba is on my side", or "I am sure Baba is in my group." This is the very delicate - if not tragic - situation going on now in our Marga. 'Tragic' because this is the very same syndrome that has brought down all the various religions.

HISTORICAL PRECEDENCE

In the Shia & Sunni fight within the Muslim religion, both sides think that by killing members of the opposite faction then Prophet Mohammad is pleased. So both sides think that their preceptor is Prophet Mohammad and that the other side is an intrusion of their religion. Both have their own interpretation of Islamic law - both have their own teachings of Islam. And for that, they end up killing each other thinking that Prophet Mohammad is on their side.

Christianity is the same. All the factions think that 'Jesus is my Lord and He is with me', and in that rigid belief they commit all kinds of heinous crimes against other Christians. All parties feel justified in their cause and think their teachings are the real Biblical sermons. This is the height to which their conflict has reached.

So this type of battle - or downfall - is quite common amongst all the dogmatic religions. And here Baba signals how it has happened in Buddhism as well.

Baba says, "About thirty-five years ago, a war was going on between two countries, the citizens of which have the same religion (Buddhist). When the soldiers went to war, their mothers used to pray to Lord Buddha to save the lives of their respective sons. What will Lord Buddha do? Save this man or that man? Both have the same “Is't'a,” but both parties have totally forgotten their ideology. If they were established in the ideology, they would not have gone to war. So therefore, man should follow both the ideology and “Is't'a”. One should be an ideologist and an “Is't'anist.” (Subhasita Samgraha-20, 'Ideology, Goal and Devotion')

Here the whole point is that when any religion reaches the stage of illogical fanaticism or groupism, then they appeal to their preceptor to support their selfish cause, totally forgetting the very teachings given by their preceptor. And in that way, members of the same religion fight against and even kill one another, totally transgressing all the codes and teachings given by their preceptor.

Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism are all suffering from the same problem. As they divide into various factions, each party is thinking that their preceptor is only with their group.

GROUPISM IN ANANDA MARGA (AM)

Unfortunately, now all the groups in Ananda Marga (AM) are marching down a similar road. Read any groupist propaganda letter or stand outside almost any AM function, and you can see such things taking place. Indeed, such battles are verily occurring in courtrooms around the globe, in various sectors, as each group tries to gain the upper hand.

For the sake of their petty interests and groupist survival, fights are breaking out over jagrtis, Master Units, Prout bhavans, retreat sites etc. All the physical properties of AM have been divided up and are being treated as battles zones. Indeed, heated battles are taking place left and right, and amidst it all, the various factions think, "I am sure Baba is in my group". That is the very real belief that permeates their mental plate.

Yet what they forget is that what they are doing is not consistent with Baba's teachings. They may think they have Ista, but they have lost adarsha, i.e. His teachings. And when they have lost adarsha or AM dharma, then how is it that Ista can be pleased. In that case, how is it that Baba is really in their group? So with this defective mentality they are hurting and harming other Ananda Margiis for their own selfish gain.

Tragically, this is the level of where things are at: Avadhutas have been murdered; Didis are being beaten and locked out of jagritis, land is being wrongly captured and sold, presses are being hijacked, offices are being broken into, and so much nonsense is going on. Each side is drunk in the intoxication of their own group's power struggle, and all hail, "I am sure Baba is in my group."

Should these groups take a few more steps down this fateful road, then they will all create their own silly interpretations of AM teachings as well. Each will have their own Ananda Sutram.

Then truly there will be no difference between their group and the various factions in the dogmatic religions.

FACE THE CONDEMNATION OF LORD SHRII SHRII ANANDAMURTIJI

Such groupists should stop and reflect. Because, while they may think that "I am sure Baba is in my group", clearly such internal feuding does not bode well for their future. When a Dada is murdered, when a Didi is harmed, when Ananda Margiis are victimised and abused, then clearly someone is going to meet their fate - i.e. pay their dues.

Baba says, "If an Ananda Margi engages in harming another Ananda Margi he remains under the condemnation of A'nandamu'rtijii till his conduct is reformed." (Caryacarya - 2, 'Society', pt #14)

So even though, all the groups think, "I am sure Baba is in my group", in their own way they are all going to face Baba's wrath. Because He does not and will not tolerate the harming or hurting of other Ananda Margiis. That is against the very teaching of Baba. Regardless of their "logic", no factional camp is justified in such malevolent actions.

THE SOLUTION: FOLLOW HIS TEACHINGS

Although, things have sunk far below our AM standard, still there is hope. The various camps have yet to tear apart Baba's teachings. Ananda Marga ideology remains in tact and singular in form. And that is what we are to follow - not any groupist conflict or factional agenda.

Indeed, our first and foremost duty is to strictly adhere to His guidelines; that is the only way to overcome groupism. When the mind is ensconced in neo-humanistic feelings, then such crude battles will never occur. Rather there will be a joining of the minds and natural unity within AM. Then all really will be doing for Baba as their actions will be according to His teachings.

So none should lose hope - nor should anyone be duped into thinking that any particular factional camp is standing for Baba and holding the flag of AM. Because no one involved in any selfish power struggle is on the path of dharma. It is certain that Baba is not in any group.

BABA'S BLESSING

Baba has blessed us with the teachings that will serve as the guiding light for creating one Ananda Marga and leading the entire humanity unto the path of benevolence.

Baba says, "O human beings, try to understand the needs of humanity and build an appropriate social system. Do not try to do anything for your petty personal or group interests, because nothing done with a narrow outlook bereft of Cosmic ideation will last. The cruel hand of time will obliterate all your achievements and plunge them into an oblivion you cannot fathom." (Subhasita Samgraha-1, Ch.1)

Namaskar,
Vijay Deva

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Tumi a'ma'y bha'lo besechile, a'mi toma'r pa'ne ta'ka'i ni..." (PS 801)

Purport:

Baba, You have loved me and showered me in Your divine blessing, but I did not look towards You. I did not care or pay heed to Your love. Baba, You have graciously bestowed everything upon me. But I did not give You anything in return. Drowned in my own selfishness, I did not surrender at Your alter. In spite of that You love me. Baba, You are do gracious.

Baba, in those deep, black foggy days of my life, when I was feeling helpless, isolated, and lonely, then You gently held my hand and consoled me and You lovingly kept me along with You. In bleak those foggy days, You got wounded on the thorny path, but I did not apply any ointment to ease the pain. I was so selfish.

Baba, You are so gracious, You always help me in each and every circumstance. In my sorrowful days, when in danger, and when my heart is broken, always You console me by filling my entire being with Your sweet nectar. Even then, in the grand universal arena of Your divine liila, I could not become useful in any work. Due to my own lethargy, my existence could not be utilised. Uselessly, I wasted my time. In spite of this, still You love me.

Baba, O' my Dearest; You are my own; You are my everything; You have showered Your causeless grace and made me Yours...

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Solution

Baba says, "This has been our failing: that we neglected the spiritual faculties of human life, we neglected the cardinal spiritual points of life. If we are interested today in the welfare of this beautiful universe, we should try more and more to accelerate the speed of spiritual progress. If the acceleration of spiritual progress becomes tremendous, then not only in the human world, but also in the physical, psychic and spiritual spheres of the entire world -- and not only of the entire animate world, but of both the animate and inanimate worlds -- there will be tremendous progress. And this is what we want. Now we are anxiously waiting for that crimson dawn on the eastern horizon." (A Few Problems Solved-5)

Note: Generally people do not realise this very thing which Baba has explained above. To understand this fully it needs agraya' buddhi (pointed intellect). Only those who are blessed sadhaka can understand that sadhana is the panacea.

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